a musical instrument that consists of two small round pieces of wood that you hold in the hand and hit together with the fingers to make a noise. Castanets are used especially by Spanish dancers. 响板(西班牙人跳舞时常用的伴奏乐器) Topics Musicc2Word Originearly 17th cent.: from Spanish castañeta, diminutive of castaña, from Latin castanea ‘chestnut’.